|
GONORRHOEA
Caused by the bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Gonorrhoea is one
of the most common of sexually transmitted diseases, and while
there is no common symptom - other than excessive vaginal
discharge, this disease is often only diagnosed after it has
already spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, where if left
untreated will proceed to the heart, resulting in damage to the
valves, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal scarring,
ectopic pregnancy and infertility. The gonococcal organism can
also be passed to a newborn during birth, resulting in severe
eye infections that can lead to blindness. To prevent this from
happening, newborns are usually given an antibiotic or eye-drops
containing silver nitrate.
The symptoms usually only follow a week after infection, where
in men, gonorrhoea results in a burning sensation on passing
urine, with a possible discharge of pus from the penis. Later
symptoms in the woman would include, abdominal pain and fever,
and there is a risk of inflammation of the urethra (secondary
urethritis).
Symptoms: (usually occurring about one week after
exposure)
Women:
- vaginal discharge
- lower abdominal pain
- frequent urination accompanied with pain
- increased or painful menstrual periods
- sore throat (from oral sex)
Men:
- thick, yellowish discharge from the penis
- frequent urination accompanied with pain
- sore throat (from oral sex)
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Samples from the cervix are usually the surest way of
obtaining a diagnosis, where thereafter, the appropriate
antibiotic treatment may be administered for total recovery.
Some strains have become resistant to penicillin and
tetracycline, in which case other antibiotics are recommended,
such as ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone.
It is vital that one inform current and past sexual partners,
who may have been infected without realising it.
|
